The bells rang again in Cupertino’s Memorial Park Aug. 6 to honor those lost in the bombing of the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal during World War II.
The annual bell ringing ceremony was organized by Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities Inc. At 6:13 p.m., the exact time of the bombing, attendees gathered around the senbazuru, a tower of 1,000 paper cranes, and rang bells in unison to affirm their dedication to peace and harmony.
The Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was a key military site for the Japanese Imperial Army to store arms and munitions. On Aug. 7, 1945, the US Air Force targeted Toyokawa, dropping 813 tons of explosives, which devastated the city and killed about 2,500 citizens. Many victims were schoolchildren and young women working in the arsenal.
At the event, multiple dignitaries, including Cupertino Vice Mayor J. R. Fruen, Consulate General Yo Osumi, Cupertino Union School District Superintendent Stacey Yao and Jocelyn Fu, a Cupertino student delegate to Toyokawa, spoke about the tragedy, emphasizing a commitment to peace.
The Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities student delegation is a group of students selected to represent Cupertino on a trip to their sister city, Toyokawa. In her speech, Fu recalled visiting the Toyokawa Peace Park during her trip and assembling paper cranes to symbolize “a collective effort toward peace and remembrance.”
“Assembling the crane kits taught me the value of peace,” Fu said. “It served as a reminder of the atrocities of war, emphasizing the need to remember and learn from the past to prevent future conflicts. Regarding the bombing of Toyokawa, while it might not be as widely known as other events, learning about it highlights the widespread devastation caused by the war, affecting cities and their populations.”
Fu said some of the student delegates participated in making the cranes for the bell ringing, showing “our collective commitment to this cause.”
“Moving forward,” she added, “ I hope the delegation will continue to spread awareness and engage in activities that promote peace and understanding, ensuring that the lessons of the past guide our actions in the future.”
For more information about Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities, visit www.CupertinoToyokawa.org.
Source: www.mercurynews.com